BlacKkKlansman
What’s it about?
Colorado Springs is welcoming their first black officer to the force. He ingratiates himself over the phone with the local Ku Klux Klan before becoming their first African American member.
What we thought
Dan says: This is exactly what a dark comedy should be. Not a lot of dumb gags but a compelling and humorous look at a true story of Ron Stallworth. People with an interest in progressive politics will get a lot out of this but so long as you don’t emotionally bond with neo-nazis you should enjoy this thrilling romp.
Warning: Spike Lee uses his platform to append real footage of race crimes as an addendum to the film. While the message is powerful it is confronting and adds little to the film’s story. I preferred to avoid this footage when I first had the opportunity to see it and didn’t appreciate it being sprung on me. Avoid this segment is you’re sensitive.
3.5 stars
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
What’s it about?
This follow up to the 2008 musical based on the music of ABBA sees a pregnant Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) discover more about her mother Donna (Meryl Streep/Lily James).
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: At once a sequel and a prequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is ridiculous, unnecessary, overly sentimental and wildly enjoyable. With the bulk of ABBA’s hits used up on the first movie, the soundtrack tends towards B-sides and repeats (with a few notable exceptions*). It doesn’t matter a bit. It’s great fun to see young versions of some of the main characters, and the overly elaborate set-up necessary for Cher to sing a particular song is in itself worth the price of admission. Bring your dancing shoes, your tissues and your mum.
*Editor’s note: Stephen says: before we get attacked by ABBA fans, 6 of the 18 songs are A-side singles that weren’t in the original (one of which is their biggest single, and at 10 million copies, one of the highest selling songs of all time- guess who gets to sing that one?), and there are quite a few album tracks from Arrival and Voulez-Vous (two of this reviewers favourite ABBA LPs). #ABBAFan #NerdAlert
Skyscraper
What’s it about?
The Rock reimagines Die Hard by saving his family from terrorists in a locked-down skyscraper.
What did we think?
It’s time to put aside the Chuck Norris jokes and declare that gravity doesn’t affect The Rock; The Rock affects gravity. Skyscraper walks a fine line between homage and plagiarism but if you just want to see Dwayne Johnson saving the day amidst explosions and eye-rolling stunts then you will love this mindless action film. There are actually a few good scientific tidbits and accuracies in here as well as an interesting motive. It’s a shame that there are also flaws that render any credits from them immediately worthless. It’s highly predictable but to be honest, Liz and I had a blast predicting lines and cliched incidents (it even had a Rocky shout out) so would be fun slightly intoxicated. At the end of the day there’s one sentence that will decide whether you’ll see it or not: it’s The Rock.
Ant Man and the Wasp
What’s it about?
Scott/Ant Man (Paul Rudd) is struggling with the fallout of answering the Civil War call. He’s not legally allowed to have contact with Hank (Michael Douglas) or Hope (Evangeline Lilly), but they need him for a mission so…
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: It’s the characters who make this movie enjoyable, which is lucky because a strong story line is nowhere to be found. It’s a sequel that doesn’t really know what it wants to be, and that leaves the audience clinging to the quips of our heroes and waiting for something to really invest in. Interestingly, this movie was meant to be released BEFORE Avengers: Infinity War. I won’t say whether they do or don’t address that but it’s worthwhile noting.
Show Dogs
What’s it about?
A loner police dog gets partnered with a goofy and impatient FBI officer to go undercover at a dog show in search of a stolen panda.
What we thought
Dan says: Show Dogs biggest claim to fame is a misguided subplot about the hero learning to be relaxed when his dog junk is physically checked for quality. This scene was removed in the international version for accidentally sending the wrong message to children about molestation.
Interfering with the auteur’s vision can have negative effects on the resulting product.
Thankfully, in this instance, the auteur appears to have spent so much of the film’s budget on coke that nothing makes any sense before the edited scene. The story is both simplistic and yet baffling at the same time. The effects are laughably nineties. There are more jokes about breeding than I’d expect in a kid’s film including one with Ru Paul that I can’t figure out whether it’s racist or transphobic.
I did chuckle twice at the pug.
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
What’s it about?
Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro team up to try and incite a war between drug cartels, but don’t really do a very good job.
What did we think?
Nick says: Day of the Soldado opens and closes beautifully, but the big issue lies in the fact that there’s not a lot to rave about in the middle. Still, Del Toro and Brolin are terrific and there are some really satisfying bits and pieces amongst the retreading and boring politics.